Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2013
172. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection her policy regarding community employment placements focusing on child care; if she has a national policy of consolidating the provision of these placements under a reduced number of dedicated child care sponsors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43536/13]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection (DSP) is consolidating and improving the provision of training and work experience for CE participants who wish to pursue a career in child care.
For CE participants who work directly with children, a dedicated programme comprising formal learning and supervised work experience will become a mandatory part of participation. This formal learning programme will lead to a FETAC Level 5 Major Award in Early Childhood Care and Education. This is the minimum entry requirement for a Child care Practitioner. The duration of this programme will comprise of 2 years in which the Major Award will be completed and one year work practice leading to a maximum 3 year programme overall.
This programme involves defined standards of achievement, a career progression path, and a structure for CE participants in Early Years Services. These changes are designed to provide a more tailored and valuable support to the provision of community child care and to achieve greater coherence between participation on CE and the job market.
The objectives of this policy are:
- to ensure that all Community Employment schemes with child care places will, in the future, operate under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Framework and use the Síolta standards (the quality standards in child care) as a developmental tool;
- to provide CE participants on child care) places who work directly with children with quality work experience, training, a clear progression path and qualifications in the child care) sector; and
- to re-align the allocation of CE child care) places under dedicated child care) schemes with the standards outlined by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
There will be no reduction in the number of child care) places supported under CE.
All CE child care) places will be co-ordinated and managed by a dedicated CE Sponsored Child care Scheme. The above improvements have been informed by consultation with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, County Child care Committees and representatives of Scheme Sponsors and Supervisors.
